Questions about Disneyland Resorts

[MattIL]

My family is planning on visiting Disneyland this summer while visiting family out west. Our chances of returning anytime soon or poor so we have decided to stay in one of the 3 Disney Resorts to get the full experience.

I'm looking for observations and opinoins about Grand Californian, Paradise Pier and Disneyland Hotel. As a family we usually will take our son (will be 4) out of the parks for an afternoon break/nap before returning to the parks. Because of this we enjoy a nice pool, good common areas and comfortable rooms.

Any comparisons to WDW resorts would obviously help since we have stayed at a number of them and visted nearly all of them for sightseening or meals.
Thanks for the help.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

We stayed at the GCH last years after having stayed on hotels on harbor on previosu trips. While each prior trip to disneyland was magical, we really enjoyed our stay at the GCH. It was dh, dd(4), ds (7) and I for 4 nights and 5 days. Dh initially balked at the $$$$ when planning, but immediately fell in love with it so much so, that we're planning another stay there this Aug. We loved everything from their friendliness at check in to their helpfulness at check out. We had a bunkbed room with a balcony facing the front entrance of the hotel and our door opening to the great hearth. We loved the private entrance into DCA and the hallway into downtown disney. My kids enjoyed the pool and slides so much, we went there every day of our stay. The kids loved having their bunkbeds turned down nightly and chocolates placed on the night stand. I enjoyed having housekeeping come twice a day (morning and nightly turndown). We had fun watching our kids go about the hotel gathering information for their scavenger hunt. I loved having an itinerary each night with a list of activities available to guests for the following day (early entry to build a bear, napkin folding classes, brisk stroll through DCA before opening, early entry to sephora, etc...). We never found the time, but our niece enjoyed storytelling by the hearth. There was just a wealth of things to do at this hotel besides sleeping.
We're going again at the end of the month and just couldn't afford GCH again so we're staying at the DLH, we chose this over PPH mainly because of the Neverland Pool. I'm not expecting it to be as nice as GCH since it is a fairly old hotel, but I've always wanted to stay there since I was a little girl. Lately, reviews on DLH has been hit and miss on tripadvsiro.com whereas PPH seems to have lots of positiev reveiws. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll have a great trip. Have fun.

 

[Snow Brite]

I have always loved the Disneyland Hotel and have stayed there with each of my kids on their trips.

It has a very nostalgic feel to it, and I love how the rooms are decorated. The tv/fridge cabinet has an old map of Disneyland etched into it, the headboard of the beds are also etched. There are so fun touches in the bathroom that I will leave for surprises, but to give you an idea, the built in kleenex holder is etched with the 7 Dwarf Sneezy. So cute!

The best part is the wallpaper border. It has Tinkerbell at one end...with her pixie dust trailing behind. When you turn of the lights to go to bed...you get a wonderful surprise.

The rooms are set up well with big comfy beds that are up so HIGH you feel like a princess climbing in, a vanity area outside the bathroom, and in some rooms a separate potty room with a sliding pocket door. There is a small desk and a table with two chairs, two phones, a small balcony and sometimes a couch.

The pool is SO much fun. There is the remote control boats. The waterfalls are cool to walk through. There are a lot of really cool displays downstairs. There are some restaurants there as well.

Some people think it is too far away from the parks, but the walk is so nice through DTD that I always really enjoyed that part.

 

[nursemelis374]

I have stayed at and been in many resorts at both WDW and DL. I love staying at the GCH, it is so close and a beautiful hotel. It is very similar to Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

I will be a family of 5. Really want to stay at GCH, after reading lots of reviews, but our kids will be 15, 11 and 3, so will we have to get a suite or 2 rooms? Whew...the expense!! Anyone else have experience with family of 5 and staying at GCH?

 

[DisneyMom&Fan]

We love the Disneyland Hotel and agree with Snow Brite on just about everything. We like to hang out at the Lost Bar (indoor/outdoor) near the Peter Pan Pool. Sometimes they have live entertainment and you can kick back and have a drink while the kids play with the remote control boats, play in the arcade or just hang out. It's a nice break from the park. And, we also like the walk from the Disneyland Hotel through DTD. But, you could always take the Monorail (is it still working?) if you don't want to walk the whole way.

 

[mickeysgal]

I will be a family of 5. Really want to stay at GCH, after reading lots of reviews, but our kids will be 15, 11 and 3, so will we have to get a suite or 2 rooms? Whew...the expense!! Anyone else have experience with family of 5 and staying at GCH?

We recently booked a trip to the GCH using our DVC points for our family of 5 for a total of 5 nights. When we researched the trip, I talked to DVC and Disney Travel Co. directly as we weren't sure if we wanted to use points or cash. Every time we talked to Disney, they said that their standard rooms slept 5 at the GC, the DLH, and the PP. It wasn't until I happened to see a thread on this board that mentioned that you may get a sleeping bag at the GC for your 5th person, that I was made aware of the potential problem with the sleeping arrangements at GCH. I called Disney and was told that yes, if they are out of rooms that have either a bunk with a trundle, or rooms that have a daybed, that they would provide the 5th person with an inflatible sleeping pad (inflatable mattress of some kind?). Silly me, at no time did I "think" to ask whether a room that they said would sleep 5 actually had BEDS for 5. I think for the price this hotel charges, this is insane. What the heck, if thats the case, why not cram 6 into the room...put sleeping pads/blankets all over the place! You can go across the street at the Marriott Fairfield (and a handful of other hotels) and get two queens and a sofa sleeper for a fraction of the cost! The troubling thing is that Disney acted as this is totally normal for a deluxe hotel and they genuinely seemed confused that I would consider this an inconvenience. Sorry if anyone disagrees with me, but for the high cost (points or cash) for this luxury hotel, I think this is unacceptable. We travel a lot and I've yet to see inflatable pads/sleeping bags at Marriott, Hilton,etc. A sofa bed or day bed, yes. That I can understand. Now, from what I understand the PP and the DLH have day beds for the 5th person. Now thats reasonable.

So...the morale of the story is, when you book a room, although they say it SLEEPS 5, you have to ask the question of whether there will definitely be beds available for 5.

 

[thelionqueen]

We love the Disneyland Hotel and agree with Snow Brite on just about everything. We like to hang out at the Lost Bar (indoor/outdoor) near the Peter Pan Pool. Sometimes they have live entertainment and you can kick back and have a drink while the kids play with the remote control boats, play in the arcade or just hang out. It's a nice break from the park. And, we also like the walk from the Disneyland Hotel through DTD. But, you could always take the Monorail (is it still working?) if you don't want to walk the whole way.

ITA!
For your child of 4 The Disneyland Hotel is a MUST do. While the GC is nice, it doesn't have any of the Disney Magic or history of the DL hotel, let alone the beautiful grounds and such.
Don't miss the DL hotel, it is my favorite hotel in the entire world...love this place!!!

 

[boosmom96]

I've never stayed at PP, but we love both the DLH and GC. I agree that the DLH is probably better for a 4 year old. For me, it's a toss up as to which hotel I prefer. The GC is luxury all the way and, once you've had a theme park view, it's pretty hard to be excited about anything else! That said, I really think the DLH feels like magic. It very well could be all my childhood memories, hard to say. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed with either!

 

[mickeysgal]

I've never stayed at PP, but we love both the DLH and GC. I agree that the DLH is probably better for a 4 year old. For me, it's a toss up as to which hotel I prefer. The GC is luxury all the way and, once you've had a theme park view, it's pretty hard to be excited about anything else! That said, I really think the DLH feels like magic. It very well could be all my childhood memories, hard to say. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed with either!

I definitely think there is some magic to the DLH as it was THE Original Disney hotel. It don't get much better for nostalgia than that!